Washing makeup brushes is a chore. Despite most of us knowing that we should wash them more, the whole process seems to take forever!
Standing at the sink once a week with your entire arsenal of highlighting fans, powder kabuki, and angled contouring brushes knowing that you have to scrub, rinse, and repeat seems like a terrible way to spend an afternoon.
You’re not alone in your laissez-faire attitude towards this crucial beauty practice. A Harris Poll survey found that 39% of women say they only clean their brushes once a month, while 22% admit that they never clean them at all.
But, it may be that your brushes are the culprit behind common skin concerns, like acne, irritation, redness, and uneven texture.
Bacteria Loves Makeup Brushes
If cleansing your cosmetics tools is a task you are a little lenient with, consider this:
Makeup brushes are a paradise for all of the nasties we try to keep off of our skin, like excess sebum, dust, bacteria, and dead skin cells. That means that the next time you apply your favorite shadow, liner, or highlighter, you are essentially smearing on the key culprits behind clogged pores and acne.
As if that wasn’t bad enough, dense or wet brushes are particularly dangerous if not washed regularly.
Densely packed powder brushes are more prone to locking in dust from the air or dead skin cells they collect as they sweep across our skin, while wet beauty blenders and foundation brushes create an environment where bacteria thrive.
Additionally, product build-up can affect the quality of your blending and application. Leftover makeup can change the shades of your products, make it more difficult to pick up pigment, or cause streaky, uneven blending.
Brush Cleansing Tips for a Flawless Finish
If you’re not sure how to start making brush cleansing a regular part of your routine, start with these tips:
- Optimally cleaning your brushes once a week will keep them free of bacteria, improve performance and extend the life of you brushes. Realistically, once a month is an obtainable goal.
- Use lukewarm water and a peas size of mild soap in the palm of your hand. Hot water can weaken the adhesive bonds between the bristles and handle, while strong soaps can damage the surface of the brush.
- Rinse the brushes thoroughly until the water runs clear.
- Repeat as necessary.
- Gently squeeze out excess water without pulling on them and lay flat to dry with the bristles hanging over the edge of a rack or counter. Laying wet brushes on a towel can cause mildew.
- In between deep-cleans, spot clean to remove pigment and product. We recommend colorescience® Brush Cleaning Wipes or jane iredale Botanical Brush Cleaner.
Need to get your skin back in shape? Start with a routine for cleaning your brushes. Then, schedule a consultation with a trusted dermatologist. We can help you find the root cause of your skincare concerns and find treatment options that work best for your unique needs.
